Questions about nitrox

[lynnemari]

My husband and I have dove for around 7 years now, we were doing dive trips twice a year, and the trips were dive, dive, dive. Now our trips are once a year and we get in around five dives. We were so exhausted that we needed a vacation from our vacation. Someone had suggested looking into nitrox, that you don't get as tired when you use that, because you are not taking on the nitrogen? Is that true? I have been afraid to consider nitrox because I herd you can't go past 60 feet? Sometimes you don't plan on it but you end up 10 feet deeper than planned. Yes I know there is certification for this, I just don't want to go through it, if it is not for me. So I am just checking out general info on it.
thanks
Lynne

 

[JeffG]

My husband and I have dove for around 7 years now, we were doing dive trips twice a year, and the trips were dive, dive, dive. Now our trips are once a year and we get in around five dives. We were so exhausted that we needed a vacation from our vacation. Someone had suggested looking into nitrox, that you don't get as tired when you use that, because you are not taking on the nitrogen? Is that true?

No. You might hear some anecdotal evidence stating that...but it would be more of a placebo.

I have been afraid to consider nitrox because I herd you can't go past 60 feet?

Nope. Not true.

The truth is that oxygen can get toxic at depth. "Standard" Nitrox mixes are good for 110ft (32%) and 90ft (36%)

 

[tfsails]

The anecdotal "evidence" that a diver feels less drained after a day of diving nitrox is just that--anecdotal. I can say that in my own experience I seem to be less tired after a day of diving nitrox than I do after a day of diving air. Typically these dives are in the 60-80 ft range and I dive either 32% or 36% mixes. When I go on dive vacations I like to dive, dive, dive, and then dive some more. I've done as many as five dives a day on nitrox and didn't feel half as tired as I have doing three or four dives on air.

Nitrox can work for you in two ways: you can extend your bottom time beyond that possible with air due to less nitrogen in the gas you're breathing, OR, you can dive the same profile you would on air and have that much larger a safety margin against DCS.

Of course, you NEVER get something for nothing. The physical world won't allow it. The price you pay is an increased risk of oxygen toxicity at depth. This is usually only a slight risk and quite manageable PROVIDED YOU GET THE PROPER TRAINING AND HEED THE LIMITATIONS.

My suggestion is to go for the Nitrox training. These days it doesn't involve any training dives at all, and I think sometime down the road you'll be glad that you did it.

 

[Doc]

I like Placebo, I save big money and get the generic ones at Sam's Club Pharmacy.

Here's a great Nitrox FAQ

 

[k ellis]

I would say go for it. I dont even dive air anymore just because I myself seem way less tired after a day of dives and dont have that have to take a nap feeling.

Nitrox is a great course to take and like was mentioned above has some limitations. The higher the percentage the shallower the depth. It would take a while to explain how it all works but it is well worth it especially if you are going to get a lot of dives in a short time period

 

[DandyDon]

My husband and I have dove for around 7 years now, we were doing dive trips twice a year, and the trips were dive, dive, dive. Now our trips are once a year and we get in around five dives. We were so exhausted that we needed a vacation from our vacation. Someone had suggested looking into nitrox, that you don't get as tired when you use that, because you are not taking on the nitrogen? Is that true? I have been afraid to consider nitrox because I herd you can't go past 60 feet? Sometimes you don't plan on it but you end up 10 feet deeper than planned. Yes I know there is certification for this, I just don't want to go through it, if it is not for me. So I am just checking out general info on it.
thanks
Lynne

Nope, nope.

Traveling is tiresome, getting older is tiresome, diving adds to it all. I like Nitrox for dives below 60 feet, but not for the placebo effect.

 

[ucfdiver]

DIR-diver.com - Nitrox Class Part 1

Everything that I think a recreational diver needs to know about nitrox is there.

Be sure to read this while you're over on that site-
DIR-diver.com - Using the min deco table

 

[ligersandtions]

I've heard so many people say that Nitrox does make them feel better after a day of doing many dives....and I've heard so many people call BS on those people. Even if diving Nitrox doesn't physically affect the way you feel, if it mentally affects you and makes you feel better, then go with the placebo effect. Get Nitrox certified....try doing multiple dives with Nitrox....see how you feel.

Obviously (see sig), I haven't taken Nitrox yet, but do plan on doing so in the future. The only reason I haven't done so is that I'm just now to the point where I'm getting to my NDL before I get run out of air. That will only be exacerbated now that I have a 130 cubic foot tank...

 

[k ellis]

Ok Im behind on the times but what is placebo?

 

[Teamcasa]

Ok Im behind on the times but what is placebo?

Placebo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia